Vascularized porous metal orthopaedic implant devices

Abstract

An osteoconductive vascularized porous metal implant device and method for implanting the vascularized device are described herein. The vascularized implant device comprises an implant which is porous titanium, tantalum or other metal which is biocompatible with the mammalian body and at least one vascular conduit which connects the porous implant to an animal vasculature, such as a human vascular system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of performing an orthopedic surgery to connect bone surfaces, the method comprising connecting a porous metal implant device with the vascular system of a host receiving implantation of the device, the device comprising:
 the rigid porous metal implant which is biocompatible with the mammalian body; and 
 at least one implantable inlet vascular conduit comprising a biocompatible polymer, the inlet vascular conduit having first and second ends and is arranged and configured to supply blood into the implant and to connect the porous implant to a mammalian vascular system, 
 the porous metal implant having internal voids which form at least 50% by volume percent of the implant, and the at least one vascular conduit providing blood flow into the porous metal implant by having the inlet vascular conduit extend into and below an outer surface of the porous metal implant to effect blood flow from a vascular system of a host receiving implantation of the device into internal portions of the porous metal implant, the blood flow effected by the vascular system of the host receiving implantation of the device after implantation, wherein the first end of the inlet vascular conduit is connected to a blood vessel and the second end of the inlet vascular conduit is below an outer surface of the rigid metal implant. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal of the implant is selected from the group consisting of porous titanium, porous titanium-alloy, porous tantalum and porous tantalum-alloy implant, the metal implant having pores of 300 nm in depth and breadth and the at least one vascular conduit having a diameter in the range of from 3 mm to 9 mm. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein the metal implant has pores of 300 nm to 1300 nm depth and breadth. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pores have 400 nm to 800 nm depth and breadth. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein the orthopaedic procedure further comprises the step of creating a trough for placement of the implant in a press-fit fashion. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the orthopaedic surgical procedure is selected from the group consisting of intercarpal fusion, implanting a foot prosthesis, ankle fusion, wrist fusion, knee fusion, implanting a hip and/or knee prosthesis, and limb transplants. 
     
     
       7. A method of performing an orthopedic surgery to connect bone surfaces, the method comprising connecting a porous metal implant device with the vascular system of a host receiving implantation of the device, the device comprising:
 the rigid porous metal implant which is biocompatible with the mammalian body; 
 at least one implantable inlet vascular conduit comprising a biocompatible polymer, the inlet vascular conduit having first and second ends and is arranged and configured to supply blood into the implant and to connect the porous implant to a mammalian vascular system; and 
 at least one implantable outlet vascular conduit comprising a biocompatible polymer, the outlet vascular conduit having first and second ends and is arranged and configured to couple the implant to a second portion of the vascular system and transmit blood from the implant to the second portion of the vascular system after implantation, 
 the porous metal implant having internal voids which form at least 50% by volume percent of the implant, and the at least one inlet vascular conduit providing blood flow into the porous metal implant by having the inlet vascular conduit extend into and below an outer surface of the porous metal implant to effect blood flow from a vascular system of a host receiving implantation of the device into internal portions of the porous metal implant, the blood flow effected by the vascular system of the host receiving implantation of the device after implantation, wherein the first end of the inlet vascular conduit is connected to a blood vessel, the second end of the inlet vascular conduit is below an outer surface of the rigid metal implant after implantation, the first end of the outlet vascular conduit is connected to the second portion of the vascular system, and the second end of the outlet vascular conduit is coupled to the rigid metal implant. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the metal of the implant is selected from the group consisting of porous titanium, porous titanium-alloy, porous tantalum and porous tantalum-alloy implant, the metal implant having pores of 300 nm in depth and breadth and the at least one vascular conduit having a diameter in the range of from 3 mm to 9 mm. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7  wherein the metal implant has pores of 300 nm to 1300 nm depth and breadth. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7  wherein the pores have 400 nm to 800 nm depth and breadth. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 7  wherein the orthopaedic procedure further comprises the step of creating a trough for placement of the implant in a press-fit fashion. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 7  wherein the orthopaedic surgical procedure is selected from the group consisting of intercarpal fusion, implanting a foot prosthesis, ankle fusion, wrist fusion, knee fusion, implanting a hip and/or knee prosthesis, and limb transplants.